The 16th and final sailing this year to Cuba from Port Canaveral left Monday for a five-day voyage that includes a stop in Key West, an overnight in Havana, and a visit to Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas.

A vintage car drives down a street in Havana, Cuba, with the Norwegian Sun docked at port in the background.(Photo: NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE PHOTO)

The Sun will return to Port Canaveral next April for more Cuba itineraries, with four-day sailings there, as well as three-day Bahamas cruises.

Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray told port commissioners last week that the sailings "have been very successful for Norwegian Cruise Line. So we're really, really happy that this has been a success for them, and they're bringing the ship back next year."

“We’re very proud of the success of the Norwegian Sun sailings from Port Canaveral, and thrilled that Norwegian Cruise Line has chosen to continue its very popular Cuba itineraries from here,” Murray said in a statement. “This important decision by Norwegian to bring Norwegian Sun ‘back home’ to our port validates our commitment to meeting the needs and expectations of our valued cruise partners.”

The Sun is the first ship to cruise to Cuba from Port Canaveral.

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The Norwegian Sun is the first passenger ship from Port Canaveral to visit Cuba.
Tim Shortt, FLORIDA TODAY

Norwegian Cruise Line President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Stuart said that since the cruise line started sailing to Cuba from Miami in 2017, "it has become one of our most popular destinations."

Port Canaveral was Norwegian Sun’s first home port, following a three-week renovation in April in Victoria, British Columbia.

The Sun was built in 2001, and has a capacity of 1,936, based on double-occupancy of its cabins. As part of the upgrades the ship now features refreshed staterooms, dining outlets and other public spaces. The ship has three new venues: Los Lobos Cantina, a Mexican restaurant; Bliss Ultra Lounge, a bar and nightclub; and Spinnaker Lounge, which features a large dance floor.

After leaving Port Canaveral, the Norwegian Sun will have some sailings from Miami, then will reposition to South American for its fall and winter season, before returning to Port Canaveral in April.

Among the passengers are Christine and Rami Shadrack of Casselberry, fl. with their kids Michael and Valera.The Norwegian Cruise Line ship Sun left Port Canaveral Monday afternoon to eventually arrive in Cuba, making it the first passenger ship to go to Cuba from Brevard. TIM SHORTT/ FLORIDA TODAY

Port Canaveral CEO John Murray talks to the media. The Norwegian Cruise Line ship Sun left Port Canaveral Monday afternoon to eventually arrive in Cuba, making it the first passenger ship to go to Cuba from Brevard. TIM SHORTT/ FLORIDA TODAY

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The Sun's itinerary from Port Canaveral this summer included a Monday departure, with a call on Key West on Tuesdays, followed by an early-morning arrival in Havana on Wednesdays, allowing passengers the opportunity to experience a full day and night there.

In addition to the four-night sailings to Cuba, Norwegian Sun operated three-night cruises out of Port Canaveral to the Bahamas that sailed every Friday. Those cruises called at either Nassau or Freeport, as well as at Great Stirrup Cay.

The Sun previously had been based at Port Canaveral from 2010 to 2012.